Belmont Times June 2021 Issue

www.belmonttimes.com

Cindy Anderruci counted her last few bags “..., 47, 48, 49, 50!”
Cindy was very excited she was going to go to a vacation house
for 2 months off the coast of Maine after a crazy work year.
Cindy hurriedly pulled up her sleeve to check her watch. Oh No!
She thought hopelessly “I am going to be late!” Cindy ran
outside while hurriedly dialing for a taxi. As the car came rolling
up the street, Cindy dragged her last few bags out onto the
pavement. With her driver Tom’s help, Cindy picked each and
every one of her 50 bags into the
by Sophia
trunk.
As the car raced off towards the airport, Cindy wrote a list of
the animals and plants she was hoping to see: seagulls,
seaweeds, mussels, and clams. When Cindy got to the airport,
she ran frantically through the doors and skipped across the
room until she found her flight. Cindy ran in and took her seat
right as the door closed.
Time to Relax!

Cindy quickly fell asleep as the engine roared to lift, the wheels
tucked in, and her plane soared into the sky. When Cindy woke
from her doze, lunch was being served. Cindy ordered a BCFP
(Bacon, Cheese and FRIED potato sandwich, but didn’t eat any
of it and repeatedly glanced out of the window looking for any
sight of land.
After the plane landed, Cindy raced out stopping by the counter
to get her bags. Cindy found the car she had rented back home
in Australia and sped away to her hotel. Cindy checked in with
the manager to get her keys and raced up the stairs to plop
every one of her bags onto the comfortable king-sized bed.
Without bothering to take a bath, Cindy flung on the covers and
fell fast asleep with the sound of waves crashing in her ears…
“Tomorrow, oh, tomorrow…” - Cindy couldn’t wait to wake up
and set out for her adventures in Maine.

Memories By Eva C.
“I remember…” We gathered in front of my grandmother,
listening to her tales of Before. Before we broke the land. Before
the world had become a dystopia where we were confined to our
homes in fear of the destruction and death that awaited us on
“the Outside.”
“I remember during summer our mother would force my brother
and I outside, telling us that the weather was beautiful and we
needed the fresh air. We would have such adventures out there -
venturing into muddy creeks, hiking through dense forests,
walking along the road in a simple straight line in search of
something new. We never knew what would happen - and we
were almost never prepared - but that was the fun of it. Not
knowing. Of course, sometimes that would scare us. Like in the
creeks. Oh! How my brother and I were so afraid of snapping
turtles! We never dared to wade to the parts of the brook where it
was so murky that we could not see the bottom. Many a toy or net
had we lost, when we both succumbed to our fears and refused to
go and get it. Of course, the one time we did see a turtle, my
brother and I both ran splashing out of the creek, screaming all
the way, while the turtle simply sauntered away, as if this were a
normal occurrence in its everyday life.

And on those rare days when my mother
would take us to the beach, we would
make towering sand castles and swim
farther and farther into the sea. Funnily
enough, as we swam farther into the sea,
we were not afraid of sharks, as my
brother and I believed they were simply
harmless. What a contrast between our
fear of the harmless snapping turtles and
bravery towards the sharks. Almost
everything was a competition: who could
swim faster; who could find more
seashells; who could build the best sand
castle. Sabotage was a certain constant,
as my brother and I refused to let the
other win. And our poor mother would
have to stand as the sole judge between
us.
But now the world is in pieces. No longer
do we play at the beach. No longer do we
venture into creeks. We now wish for the
fears of snapping turtles. If only we had
made a different choice. If only we had
tried to save our “Outside.”
If only…”

by Sarah
Playground First Full Day at the
First Full Day at the
Hi! Today is the first day without school! I’m getting
ready to go play with my friend CrimsonWing for a whole
day, and -Oh! I’m already telling you whatI'm going to do,
and I haven’t even introduced myself! I’m AmberWind, and
we were going to Cobalt Cat Elementary’s public play
structure.
It's the best playground ever. It’s divided into four
equal sections, which are painted bright yellow for
Summer, mint green for Spring, pumpkin orange for
Autumn, and frosty white for Winter.
In each section, it has:
- 16 bamboo slides(5yd-1yd)
- 6 rock walls with decorations depending on the
season(Leaf, Crystal, Flower, Ice cream)
- 8 climbing ropes made out of willow branches(5yd-
1yd
- 4 stand-on swings made out of a log and
vines(Barely off the ground)
- 4 more swings just for doing Spider that have a
pretty wide seat
- And the last 4 are for swinging normally.

We both climbed a willow branch, slid down the
longest vine slide, swung while standing, did the spider,
swung normally, and finally, climbed the rock wall with
popsicle decorations. We played tag for a while, and ate
lunch.
I didn’t know what to do, so I asked CrimsonWing if
she had any idea what to play.“Do you want to find the
things on the scavenger hunt?” CrimsonWing
suggested.“Sure!”I smiled.We found the first step to
making a popsicle under a platform. 2nd, in the shortest
slide. 3rd, on a spider swing. And the last behind the rock
wall.“Aw…We have to leave now, CrimsonWing.”I sighed.
We waved goodbye, and padded up the street.We ate
a dinner of sweet peas, carrots, side muffin, and for
dessert, Peanut Butter Cup ice cream, fudge and whipped
cream.
I climbed up the stairs on drowsy paws, climbed into
my soft mossy bed and fell asleep.

Tige's Adventure
By Henry
Once upon a time there was a tiger named Tige who went into a
house. He found a chair. He sat in the chair. The chair was so
comfy, that he fell asleep. He dreamed about he was a ninja tiger
and he threw fire bombs at people. He threw bombs at bad
people. And then! He threw a fire ball at the police one time, and
he went to jail. When he got out of jail, Tige the tiger got more
careful of throwing fire bombs. And then he never went to jail
again. Then Tige the tiger woke up from his nap.
Tige went outside and played in the bushes. He saw his friend,
named Cat. Tige and Cat played until it was the end of the day.
When it was the end of the day, they stayed up late. At midnight,
they saw a bat. They followed the bat and saw a huge soda can.
They leaped into the soda can. There was no soda in the can. So
Cat and Tige leaped out of the soda can and went to sleep.

When Tige and Cat woke up, they were in a totally different
place. And they were separated. Tige was in Florida, and Cat
was in Africa. Tige found a pool in his backyard. He swam in it.
When he came out he was soaking wet, and he hated it. So then
he poured milk into the pool. When he swam again he was very
comfortable in the milk water. Tige then started to watch TV.
After watching TV he had lunch, and after lunch he went
swimming in the milk-water pool again. At dinner time Tige
drank milk and ate fish, and went to bed after dinner.
Tige was dreaming of his friend Cat, and that he didn’t get
separated from him. When Tige woke up, he had breakfast. It
was fish cereal and milk. After breakfast he went for a quick
swim in his milk water pool, and then went shopping. Tige came
back after shopping and watched some TV, and he saw his friend
Cat on the news!
Cat was on the news saying “Meow, meow, meow!”. Tige knew
what she was saying. She was saying, “I want to play with Tige,
but I am in Africa and Tige is in Florida.” So then Tige went to
the airport to fly to visit Cat. When Tige got to Cat’s house, Cat
suggested that Tige buy a house next to her’s! So he did. And he
moved all his stuff from his Florida house to his Africa house.
Tige lived there and Tige and Cat lived happily ever after.

By Hillary
Nightningales
(A haiku)
Nightningales are in the sky,
Oh, how high they can fly!
We hear them sing,
"Ling ling ling!"
Happy notes ring in our ears,
While sad notes bring tears.
I wait for the nightningales in the day,
While in the night, I watch nightningales fly to me, YAY!
Oh, how happy and relaxed am I in the summer,
And all the nightningales come out of their lumber!
Nightningales, please grant me some wishes,
That I can have delectable food every day, mmm ... delicious!
Looking at them through my own eyes,
I can make my heart joyful inside!
They sing in the night
With our lanterns lit, so bright!

By Yueqi
Poems of Collection
Beach
(Haiku)
Beautiful water
White sand shining in the sun
Calm and relaxing
My Night
Lying in bed
Good night, mom had said
Want to cuddle up with my
blanket
Where is it? I yank it
Nice and cold
Though it’s old
Hug it up, to my chest
Yawn. My blanket is the best!
(Haiku)
Sleep
Eyes close, rest in bed
Covered with a soft blanket
Getting happy dreams

By Adeline
Summer Playful
April, May, June!
Wandering around in graceful joy,
Swimming in the pool and enjoying the fun.
Summer is here and all is back,
Remembering good memories of the wonderful summer
past.
June, July, August!
Long summer blast!
Happily spending family time,
Love is what makes it special.
Love, Family, and of course don’t miss the fun!
Smile in joy for summer vacation!
It’s a special season for everyone no matter what.
Learn to embrace all the struggles in life,
Summer can make those struggles disappear…
Because summer is what makes a world a better place!

A while later, after a lot of effort, the three finally lugged the
telescope down the hill and to the park. As Kiwi wiped sweat off
her forehead, she said, “Next time instead of slacking off, you
two could actually help carry it!” But Yope and Bun were too
busy “ooh”ing and “aah”ing to notice. “Cool! I think I see Draco.”
Yope said. Bun shook his head. “That looks more like Cassiopeia.”
Kiwi yawned. “How can Draco look like Cassiopeia? One’s a
dragon and the other? Cass looks like a W! Let me see.” Bun and
Yope moved aside to let Kiwi look through the telescope. A
moment later, she responded with, “Yeesh, Yope. That’s
Cassiopeia for sure. Don’t you see the W?”
“Cassiopeia’s a W?”
“Right. And how do you plan on even finding aliens if you don’t
know what you’re looking at!” Yope scratched his head, “Uh…”
“Exactly!” Kiwi said haughtily.
Suddenly, Bun yelled, “YOPE! I SEE A UFO!” Yope stopped
thinking about finding aliens and looked to where Bun was
pointing. Kiwi sighed, “That’s ridiculous. It’s an airplane. And
plus,” she looked at her watch. “It’s ten— we should get going.”

Yope and Bun groaned. “But it’s only ten! We can stay for a
little longer…” they whined.
“Yeah? Take into account how long it took us to haul the
telescope down a hill. How long do you two think it will take to
lug that thing back up the hill?”
“…”
“A long time?”
“Right! And it’s ten already! I still want to sleep.”
“Alright, alright!” Yope said, holding up his hands in surrender.
But just as Yope was going to pack up the telescope, Bun
shouted, “Look, Yope! Do you see? It’s Ursa Major! And Ursa
Minor and Draco! Oh. That one called, …..Bootes too. Heh.”
Yope laughed at the last one and Kiwi said, “You’re not saying it
right. It’s ‘boo-OH-tees’, not ‘boo-ties’.” Bun laughed. “You two
can continue laughing your heads off while I go home and
sleep. And watch movies.” Kiwi snapped. At ‘movies’, Yope and
Bun stopped laughing. “Movies? Alright! Come on, Bun. Let’s go
home!”
So, the three of them started up the hill, backs bowed and
heads hunched and dragging the telescope, unaware that in
the flying object that Kiwi had identified as an “airplane”, two
pairs of bright yellow eyes glowed with a devious plan to prove
that extraterrestrial life did yet exist.

I Hate Foreign Language Class
by Rishika
“MUAHAHAHA!! I will rule the world with my Miniaturization Tool!
MUAHAHAHA!”
“Good job Robert, but you need to work on your evil laugh.” the drama teacher
said. “It sounds like a cow tried to snort.” she muttered. A few laughs scattered
across the room.
Sometimes the drama teacher, Ms. Garcia, can get a little grumpy. But only if
someone messed up on something that is really easy.
“NEXT!” Ms. Garcia screeched, her voice echoing across the theater.
I stepped up onto the stage and took a deep breath. “People of Pensylnomia,
today is the best day of my life. Because TODAY, I will rule the world using my
secret tool. And NO ONE can stop me! MUAHAHAHAHA!!” I stopped, glancing at
the teacher who was now sitting on one of the chairs in the front row. She stood
up, clapping hard. And soon, the whole class joined in. I blushed.
“Wonderful work, Devin!” Ms. Garcia said delightfully. “You were fantástico!”
“Thank you.” I replied, still blushing.
Suddenly, a loud noise screamed through the speakers. It was the end of the
period bell.
“And there’s the bell. Well, tonight I will decide who should do what role. Class is
dismissed.” I hurried off the stage as Ms. Garcia spoke.
I hauled my bag over my shoulders and rushed out the door of the theater
Next was math. I am the best! In fact, Ms. Ames thinks I'm so good that she
recommended the National Math Contest!
After math class, came science. I guess I’m alright in science. And, believe it or
not, science is actually pretty fun to me! It’s very cool.

But after science is… foreign language. I haven’t always been that good at foreign
language. … Okay, FINE! I’m horrible at it. I am good at everything but it. I
dunno why, but foriegn language is my worst enemy.
I opened the door to one of the classrooms and sat at one of the many desks.
“Attention class, open up your notebooks and write these sentences in two
different languages other than English. Go!” the foreign language teacher, Mr
Baker, pointed at the chalkboard to a bunch of sentences. I gulped.
After that mess, Mr Baker announces a project. “We will be doing a project and
in that project you will have to speak in 5 languages. And in one language, you
will be saying a little conversation starter. Then in another, you will answer as a
second person in that conversation. And each language will be one person. On
the worksheet, there will be more information. This project is due by Friday
midnight and today is...” Mr Baker glanced at his watch. “Thursday. Any
questions?” Mr Baker asked.
A kid raised his hand. “Is this mandatory?”
“Yes, Jacob, and this is 7th grade-you should do everything even if it is not
mandatory. If you do extra, you can get good grades and maybe even become
something big in the future.” I rolled my eyes.
I raised my hand. “Can one of the 5 languages be English?”
“Yes. And remember: these 5 can be any language. Even some that are
considered dead or not rarely spoken!”
Another kid, Ella, raised her hand. “Is there a prize?”
“Ah, yes, thank you for reminding me. The prize is $20 if you win the best
presentation.” It felt like the oxygen in the room was sucked out. I felt my face
turn white. I would never win this.
I slammed my head against my kitchen table and groaned.
“Devin, what’s wrong?” my mom asked me.
“Mr Baker assigned a project today and I need to speak 5 different languages.
And the prize is $20.” I groaned again.

“Well, I can help you.” a voice called.
I looked up. It was my older sister Destiny. She’s two years older than me and is in 9th
grade. She stood there, all sassy with her hands on her hips.
“Really?” I asked her, hopeful.
“Yes… but obviously there is something I get from you.”
I slammed my head on the table again and rested it there for a moment. Then I looked
back up. “Fine. What is it?”
“You need to do my homework for a week.”
“2 days.”
“Fine.” Destiny scoffs. “Starting next week.”
I groaned. Why did I say that??
“But you need to help me with this.” I said.
“Yep. And we can start right now.” I moaned. “Come on, slowpoke!” My sister led me up
the stairs and into my room.
“Show me your project.” I shuffled toward my bag and grabbed a piece of paper inside. I
held it out and Destiny snatched it. She quietly read it and I flopped down face first onto
my bed.
“Okay.” she finally said. “We first need to make a conversation between 5 people. Then we
can translate them.”
“Okay.” I mumbled, getting up. Destiny sat down at my desk and wrote something down.
A few minutes later, Destiny got up and handed me the paper. “Wow Des, this is
amazing!”
“Well, thank you.” she said. “I try.”
“Anyways, now it is time to choose 5 languages.” Des ordered. “Choose.”
“Um, Spanish… French… and I don’t know any more.”
“Welp, you gotta think then do it yourself. Just search up one of these sentences,
translate it in the language you want, and practice saying it.” Des explained. “You’re on
your own. I gotta do my homework.” Destiny skipped out of my room and down the hall
into her own room.
I trudged downstairs and sat on one of the chairs in the kitchen.
“Hi, Dev. What’s up?” Mom asked me.
“I will fail this project and the prize is $20.”
I plopped down on my bed and groaned. “I hate foreign language class.”

The next morning, I woke up extra early. I rushed downstairs and grabbed a
handful of cookies on the kitchen table.
I stuffed one inside my mouth and smiled. “These are really good, Mom!”
“Thanks! Now go finish your foreign language project. It’s due today, right?”
I sighed. “Right.” I trudged back into my room and started gobbling down the
cookies. I sat down in my chair and opened my computer. I then searched up a
few sentences in Google Translate. I translated into 5 languages and none of them
was even English! And I spoke each sentence so fluently when I practiced! I don’t
know how I did it but I feel proud of myself.
Finally, it was time to give my presentation. I secretly ate one cookie out of my
bag. They seemed to be my lucky charm so I hoped it would save me from this
disaster.
“Devin, your turn.” Mr Baker said, gesturing to me.
I took a deep breath and walked to the front of the room with my folder.
“Hola, ¿cómo estás, persona francesa?”
“Bonjour! Je vais bien. Comment ça va, personne indienne?”
“Theek hu. Aapki zindagi mein kya ho raha hai, cheenee insaan?”
“Shenghuo hen hao. Ni ne, riben ren?”
“Watashi wa junchodesu, arigato gozaimasu.”
I paused. “Great work Devin! You spoke in Spanish, French, Hindi, Chinese, and
Japanese! I give you an A+!” Mr Baker gave me a sticker and I stuck it to my folder.
“And since you were the last one… I have to announce the winner now! Devin,
would you go sit down?”
I walked back to my chair in the middle of the room and sat down. I secretly ate
another cookie while the teacher decided the winner. My heart was beating fast.
“So, the winner is… Devin Olowinsky!!”
Everyone in the class clapped for me. I grinned so big that my jaw hurt.
I got up and went to the front of the classroom. “Great job, Devin.” Mr Baker
whispered in my ear. “I knew you could do it.”
And I got my prize. I don’t know how I did it, but I did.

woke up to the sound of my alarm clock ringing. Just great. I
I
pulled on the first thing I could find, then stumbled
yawned,
to eat breakfast. It was only a week after school had
downstairs
but I was focused on making this the best summer possible.
ended,
honey. You look tired,” Mom said, ruffling my hair. “Did you sleep
“Hey,
last night?” She handed me a bowl of cereal. “Here you go.” I
well
a half-hearted thanks before finishing it off just as quickly.
mumbled
I started to head up the staircase, I suddenly remembered that
As
was the first day of sleepaway camp. Panicking, I said, “Hey,
today
Do you know where I put my bag last night?”
mom?
laughed. “Yes, of course. It should be on your bed. Don’t worry
She
it. I left a little note as a goodbye, too, if you want to read it.” I
about
my eyes. I wasn’t in the mood for any sentimental ‘I love you’
rolled
“Please. I’ll miss you, you know.”
cards.
only going to be for three days, but whatever,” I said, nodding.
“It’s
she gave me a quick kiss, before sending me back upstairs
Satisfied,
brush my teeth.
to
I was done cleaning myself up, I went to my room to make sure I
After
everything I needed. Sure enough, the bag was there. So was a
had
hot pink Post-It note that was stuck on top of it. I picked it up.
small
while you can. What in the world…? This was not at all on what
Leave
was expecting. Most of time, she wrote a quick I love you, or even a
I
miss you a lot, sweetie. This time, however, things were different.
I’ll
she trying to scare me off? Why did her handwriting look so
Was
Strange Sleepaway
By Eva Y.
different, too?

It was probably just all a joke, I thought, shutting the idea out of
Nope.
head.. As I went down the hallway, I felt the tip of a piece of paper
my
against my sock. It was probably just one of my homework
brush
I forgot to throw out. I didn’t feel like picking it up, so I let
assignments
be. it
sweetheart. I’ll miss you,” she called out as I was tying my
“Bye,
I flashed her a quick grin, waved, then raced out the
shoelaces.
clutching my bag tightly.
doorway,
I boarded the bus, it smelled…strange. It was probably just the tall
As
that were sitting up front. They reeked of Joy Baccarat, an
girls
expensive perfume brand. But that wasn’t the scent that I
extremely
getting.
was
headed down the aisle, feeling uncertain for no reason in particular.
I
it was because that all of the other passengers were wearing
Maybe
clothing and talked in the same voice.
matching
looked through my bag once again, feeling tense. This time, I
I
another piece of paper. Run. This place isn’t safe. I looked
discovered
me. My house was about ten blocks away by now. There was no
behind
that Mom would have sneaked this one in, and even if she did
way
I certainly didn’t notice it.
before,
I looked back up, I was surrounded by terrifyingly identical faces.
When
shiver went down my spine, but it was too late. Pain struck through
A
the side of my head, and I blacked out, unconscious.

Book
Recommendations
Brown Girl Dreaming
by Jackeline Woodson
Submitted by the Belmont
Times editing team
I'll give you the Sun
by Jandy Nelson
Submitted by the Belmont
Times editing team

Paper
Recipe: Fruit
June Craft:
Craft +Recipe
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/simple-paperpinwheel-craft-1250766
Pinwheels!
https://joyfoodsunshine.com/ho
memade-fruit-popsicles/#recipe
Popsicles!

CHALLENGE:
Summer Bucket List
Drink fruit punch or coconut milk at
the beach
Hike up a mountain
Swim across a lake (or along the
side)
Write a piece about your vacation
and send it to us
Try a new popsicle/ice cream flavor
Read a new book
Have fun!

To the Tune of the Song of Peace
Poem of the Month
Year by year, in the snow,
I have often gathered plum flowers,
intoxicated with their beauty.
Fondling them impudently,
I got my robe wet with their lucid tears.
This year I have drifted to the corner
of the sea and the edge of the horizon,
my temples have turned grey.
Judging by the gust of the evening wind,
there’s hardly a chance that I will be able
to enjoy the plum blossoms.
- Li Qingzhao
Send us your favorite poem at
belmontkidsmagazine@gmail.com!

Dear Readers,
Letter from the Editors
Thank you all for your participation in this month's
issue of the Belmont Times. Whether you're a reader
or a young creator, we really appreciate your
continuous support and contributions.
To our student writers - congratulations on
completing this past school year! We've made it
through nine months filled with challenges and
successes, both personal and nationwide. During this
time, you have all grown tremendously as writers; we
are so proud of you! This month's submissions were
amazing, and your effort and progress are clear
through the work that you submitted. We really
enjoyed reading your pieces. Thanks for taking the
time to participate in the Belmont Times!
Happy Summer!
Belmont Youth Writers